Management Improvement Dictionary: Level Loading (Heijunka)

Level loading - balancing production so that there is consintency during the period (day, week, month...). Avoiding spikes in workload has numerous benefits and is tied systemically to other components of lean manufacturing: takt time, one piece flow, just in time...

Level loading in a lean manufacturing system is tied directly to systems that can changeover quickly and inexpensively. The ability to adjust production to meet the current demand whatever the mix of products desired is.